The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1887-08-19
OYSTER CULTURE.

profitable industries OF the Gulf
Coast. Not because there is any
immediate danger OF %exhaustIug
our natural reefs, but because the
OS Sters so obtained are much
cheaper and better, two very impOr-
tant items. Heretofore oysters
growing in the waters of the Gulf
and it's inlets aud arms have been
considered and treated as common
property like birds and fishes,
which circumstance operated to
destroy all incentive to individual
effort at cultivation. True our
county Supervisors have endeavor-
ed TO protect plants in isolated
cases, but their limited jurisdiction
in such matters proved rather poor
relief. The last Legislature of the
State, however, took the matter in
hand and at their last session
passed an act protecting all oysters
planted by individuals in front of
their lands on the Gulf, bayOus,
lakes and rivers which just fills the
bill. In such eases the oysters are
treated as captured game and as
such are protected.
Now it is only a question of pro-
fit whether oyster planting shall be
extensively engaged in or not, for
there is no lack OF grounds favora.
BILE for the business all along the
Gulf coast. We submit that it will
pay every man who has a salt wa
ter front 10 plant that water in Oys.
tiers aud give them as close atten.
ton as he would his garden or his
orchard, aud neither of which will
pay him better. Ii there is much
mud on tue bottom it can be cover.
ed with empty SHELLS at very little
expense, according to the depth or
quantity of the mud. If near 4
reef where there is plenty of spawn
dead shells from the factories may
be used, even after they have been
steamed aud thrown away, and
plenty of oysters may be taken off
them in three years time. But in ,
any case planting live shells or live
unopened oysters on the dead shells
will insure earlier returns. This
aud the land staked of the
expense is ended, and the only care
necessary for years to come is care ,
taking up and culliug, aud the ,
better they are kept thinned out y
Jy proper use the better for them. y
)f course those planted in or near :,
mouth OF an inland stream aIe \
liable TO be destroyed by the ir. i
ebb ard flow OF the tide. :,
there are plenty of such J.
grounds where SJcb casualties only =
'ccur at Intervals of years and give !.
of time for large profits
ven taking into account repeated
'lantiugs. 4
Now as a demonstration of tile 8
of what we have said we will
efer to the gratifying results of an !
of the Barataria Can :
ing Factory, of Biloxi, which has '
lst reached the point of proving s
Three years ago they plant I
d about 800 acres of water be. I
the point of land East OF
Biloxi where their factOryis lOcat. f,
aud Deer Island, at a cost :
at not more than $500. :
hey planted dead shells that bad
zen steamed at the factory. Spawn :
astened upon these shells aud !
10 this embryo state they
ave since been lett to grow. Mr..
/. T. Maybury, of this place, now e
mployed by the company in the d
management of their business, re- b
emily made a survey aud examina- u
.ou Of these grounds aud calculates p
nat the company has made a clear g
OF over $50, 900 on an expen II
iture of less than $4,000 as the
now stands. Another year >,
ley Will he no expense and will be :,
Irger aud more plentiful, thereby i,
Icreasilg 10 value aud profit. At "
ayOu La Batre, Ala, we under 4.
aud, nearly every foot of water 80
ont property has its oyster beds, -,
hich, iu a year or so more, will be ,.
gold miues TO that place. 81
To take a broader view of the n
if this industry is kept up a.
r a few years longer aud carried 7,
anything like the extent of the
reage OF the planting grounds
Dug these shores Mississippi Ii
Iund win be prepared to supply ST.
e whole country With the finest gri
d cheapest oysters in the world, tbs